The Working Girl Blogs Revision 2.0 Blog #40: Flying to the Far East To see all of Bobbie's Working Girl Blogs, click on this link: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/19261/working-girl-blogs

Hi. First off - a little note: Blog #40 marks the change-over of The Working Girl Blogs from a daily Monday-Friday/Saturday blog to a non-regular blog, hence the new moniker (the "revision 2.0." thing). I also changed the logo of the organizer page, from the original flat-screen TV logo to an iPad logo, to mark this change. Actually, all it means is that the blogs will be coming out irregularly, that's all. I was just being fancy. lol

Anyway, to catch everyone up...

I just got my passport yesterday. Used to have one, but it expired seven years ago, and since I don't travel abroad, I never bothered to get it renewed. Until now.

My company helped me with the processing, and the main office had asked for a few documents, required me to have a medical, made me go to a short interview with a government lady some weeks ago and sign some stuff. I, of course, had to tell her about my former identity, and she said it was okay as it was fully documented. Other than that, it went like clockwork. And I got the passport yesterday morning.

In the afternoon, I went to the embassy to get a visa. I found out that Americans don't need visas there provided we're not staying more than twenty-one days and that we have pre-purchased return tickets. I was scheduled to stay only a couple of weeks, so it wasn't needed. But the project executives insisted that I get one, I suppose in case I need to stay longer, but because one wasn’t absolutely needed, my boss said the company won't help in getting the visa itself (talk about red tape). I had to personally do it myself. I was about to rebel at that small personal inconvenience, but since it really wasn't that big a deal (and I didn't want to damage my chance to go to the Philippines), I agreed.

So I went, carrying all the documents they said I'd need, including a sort of application form, a form & letter from my company, a form & letter from the company doctor, a life-size chest x-ray (wish I had a bigger chest... heehee), some passport-size pictures (they had printed copies of the picture I had given them for my passport. Did you know, you're not supposed to smile in passport pictures?), police and FBI clearances (on account of I worked on a government project before, I suppose), and my brand-spanking-new passport. (BTW, the passport in this blog ain't real, for obvious reasons - I just mocked one up)

Anyway, I got there, went through a security check, went to the desk of one of the clerks there, and explained to the nice man from the embassy that I really needed one real quick since I was scheduled to leave Friday afternoon, 5PM. He went through the stuff I brought, and said everything seemed to be in order. But... he explained quite politely that it would take some time to get it done, especially now - they're undermanned, and in the middle of an administrative change-over (their country had just elected a new president, and their US ambassador was being recalled and replaced with a new one).

I guess I wasn't really intending to do it, but you know that poor, sad little girl act everyone knows so well? Well, I don't know - guess it was involuntary (and, no, I didn't do any crying or chin quivering). I guess I was just a little scared I might not get it in time, and what would I tell the boss?

Anyway, the nice man had me wait and gave me a nice cup of coffee while he left in search of someone. It was unremarkable coffee, but the service was this elegant-looking bone china cup with matching saucer and shiny silver-plated teaspoon, silver-plated teapot and a little china bowl filled with an assortment of cookies. I wished he served me chocolate instead of coffee, though.

He took quite a while, almost an hour, but I said I'd wait if there was a chance of getting everything done that day. The nice man would come back every ten minutes or so, or one other staff would, and would ask if I was all right. I actually felt flattered that they were being so apologetic and solicitous, and if they were all like this, I'd probably enjoy my stay over there, even though I'm going coz of work.

In the meantime, the people in that office congregated around me and chatted me up. They explained some of the idiosyncrasies of their countrymen, some of the nice places to visit, the food, the shopping (!!!) and especially the weather. They said; if I thought it was pretty hot now, wait until I get there. So I better go prepared, clothes wise.

Pretty nice folks, and all of them spoke English really well.

The man came back and said it still wasn't ready, and might not be ready in time. He said that, if it was okay for me to leave my passport, they can work on it and, whether or not it was ready, I can pass by for my passport the following afternoon. I said I might not be able to come and pick it up because of work, but I could send someone to pick it up for me. The man took a business card, scribbled on the back, and gave it to me, saying that I should ask the person that I will be sending to pick up the passport to present the card. I took the card as well as a receipt for my passport, and I gave him my business card so he can contact me if needed. And I went back to the office. The funny thing was, the embassy was only a few blocks from my place. I always knew it was an embassy or something like that, but with so many similar offices in the city, I never knew. Small world, huh?

Despite having been made to wait, I wasn't too put out. They were all very friendly and solicitous, especially the men. I was quite flattered. The man who took care of my papers didn't shake my hand like the others but kissed my hand instead. Though old fashioned, I liked the gesture. To the men out there - I highly recommend you do that kind of thing more often. I guarantee your lady will appreciate it.

Like I said, they were all pretty nice. I suppose it's their job that they be nice to visitors. They're embassy workers, after all. But I'd like to think that they liked me. I guess most people like to think that about themselves. And I suspect the girls more than the guys. I know I did.

To see ALL of Bobbie's blogposts, click this link: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/blog/bobbie-c To see Bobbie's stories in BCTS, click this link: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/14775/roberta-j-cabot